The 2014 edition of the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) Shooting Sports Participation report is now available for purchase. Prepared for NSSF by the NSGA, the report provides members of the firearms and ammunition industry with a current look at participation in nine different shooting sports, as well as the two net categories of hunting and target shooting.

This report is available for purchase by the general public. Anyone purchasing this report will also receive a complimentary copy of the new Industry Intelligence Report, Hunting and Target Shooting Participation. This report is a compilation of shooting sports-related data from the NSGA Annual Sports Participation Reports spanning the years 2001 through 2013. It provides historical trend data by gender in eight shooting sports and two net categories.

Members may log in and purchase the report through the member shopping cart for $150. Non-members may purchase the report for $1,500 by clicking here. For information on joining the NSSF, including a full list of benefits that includes substantial discounts on important NSSF research papers and reports like the one in this press release, go to nssf.org and click on the Membership heading at the top of the page. Questions? Email membership@nssf.org.

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 10,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, visit www.nssf.org.

Tom Kemos Wins 2014 National Walleye Tour Pro Angler of the Year Award
Mike Utley takes home Co-Angler of the Year Award from NWT Championship

Professional walleye angler Tom Kemos, of Oconomowoc, Wisc., won the prestigious 2014 Lucas Oil Pro Angler of the Year Award for the Cabelas National Walleye Tour (NWT). Kemos received the award at the NWT Championship in Oshkosh, Wisc., on September 20.

The Lucas Oil Angler of the Year Award goes to the angler who accumulates the most points  based on place of finish  during the course of the NWTs four-event season.

Its a huge deal for me. Ive been close to winning it several times; I can still remember the fish that I lost that cost me the title one year, Kemos said. Going into this one, I was 19 points back, so I figured I was probably going to have to swing for the fence. After such a rough opening day (of the 2014 NWT Championship), I assumed it was over. To be finally able to pull it off is awesome.

Kemos 2014 NWT season included a seventh-place finish in the season opener on the Detroit River, a 48th-place finish on the Missouri River/Lake Oahe, ninth place at Bays de Noc and a 23rd-place finish at the championship on Lake Winnebego.

Mike Utley, of Zumbrota, Minn., won the 2014 Lucas Oil Co-Angler of the Year Award for his season on the NWT. Fishing on the co-angler side, Utley logged a 22nd-place finish in the season-opener on the Detroit River followed by a trio of Top-15 finishes (Missouri River/Lake Oahe, 13th place; Bays de Noc, 11th place; Lake Winnebego, 14th place) to round out the season. Utleys successful 2014 campaign also proved profitable as he took home $4,070.82 fishing as a co-angler in four NWT events.

For winning the 2014 Lucas Oil Pro-Angler and Co-Angler of the Year Awards, both Kemos and Utley will receive all entry fees paid for the NWT tournaments in which they compete during the 2015 season. Kemos will also receive a custom ring from Lucas Oil to commemorate his award-winning season.

Cabelas National Walleye Tour delivers unprecedented television and media coverage, allowing a national audience to watch the action unfold from each event. Airing on multiple networks, the National Walleye Tour will be seen on World Fishing Network, and Pursuit Channel, as well as the NBC Sports Network. For more details, anglers are encouraged to call 612-424-0708 or 501-317-7548 or go online to http://www.nationalwalleyetour.com.

Sportsman Channel, the leader in outdoor television for American sportsmen and women, has announced a unique partnership with Bear Archery to promote and give away the new “Arena” bow. The sweepstakes will begin Wednesday, September 24 and run through Sunday, October 12. Participants are eligible by visiting www.thesportsmanchannel.com to enter for a chance to win. Bear Archery will offer an exclusive first look at the “Arena” bow at www.beararchery.com on Thursday, September 25.

“This is a great partnership with Sportsman Channel and Bear Archery,” said Jason Pickerill, manager of marketing at Bear Archery. “Bear Archery thrives on innovative products that are second to none in the industry. We are excited about giving away the new “Arena” bow to one lucky customer, which will be promoted at www.thesportsmanchannel.com.”

Bear Archery was founded by legendary sportsman Fred Bear in 1933 and has remained committed to bow hunting and superior quality. This is what Fred Bear stood for, and it is what Bear Archery will always stand for.

In accordance with the release of the new “Arena” series bow, Sportsman Channel will air the widely-popular documentary – Fred Bear: Father of Bowhunting – on Wednesday, September 24 at 7 p.m. ET. On Thursday, September, 25, the network will air Whitetail Fix Presented by Bear Archery at 7 p.m. ET and Fred Bear: Kodiak Country at 7:30 p.m. ET.

About Sportsman Channel: Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel/Sportsman HD is the only television and digital media company fully devoted to honoring a lifestyle that is celebrated by millions of Americans. The leader in outdoor television, Sportsman Channel delivers entertaining and informative programming that embraces outdoor adventure, hunting and fishing, and reveals it through unique, surprising and authentic storytelling. Sportsman Channel embraces the attitude of “Red, Wild & Blue America” – where the American Spirit and Great Outdoors are celebrated in equal measure. The network also is dedicated to promoting our nation’s military heroes and veterans, as well as providing a voice for conservation throughout the United States. Sportsman Channel reaches more than 36 million U.S. television households. Stay connected to Sportsman Channel online at www.thesportsmanchannel.com; Facebook, (facebook.com/sportsmanchannel); Twitter (twitter.com/SPORTSMANchnl and twitter.com/SportsmanPR) and YouTube (youtube.com/TheSportsmanChannel).

More than 20 Pennsylvania energy industry companies and organizations gathered at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort for the second annual Energizing Conservation event and raised more than $12,000 to benefit National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) state wildlife and habitat projects.

“We are thankful for all who attended and appreciative of the support they provide,” said Bob Eriksen, NWTF conservation field supervisor. “Funds generated from events like these are vital to our Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative, including state-level projects aimed at conserving or enhancing habitat, creating hunters and opening additional access.”

Through fundraisers, grant support and direct contributions, the energy industry has provided more than $65,000 over five years used to fund habitat and wildlife projects. They also support outdoor education, outreach events and school shooting teams in Pennsylvania.

The energy industry gives additional support through cooperative efforts with the NWTF to restore well and tank pad sites. The partners recently enhanced 33 acres in Washington County’s Cross Creek Park. The site will be transformed from overgrown fields of invasive, non-native vegetation to quality wildlife habitat. Range Resources and NiSource Midstream Services, LLC partnered with local NWTF chapters to make the project possible.

The NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative is a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to give the NWTF more energy and purpose than ever. Through this national initiative, NWTF has committed to raising $1.2 billion to conserve or enhance more than 4 million acres of essential upland wildlife habitat, create at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting, shooting and outdoor enjoyment. Without hunters, there will be no wildlife or habitat. The NWTF is determined to Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.

To learn more about the NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative, visit www.nwtf.org.

Fly anglers often have their vests crammed with fly boxes full of every imaginable size and pattern when spending a day on the water. But what happens when you’re forced to choose a single fly for the entire day?

That was the challenge at Trout Unlimited’s sixth annual Utah Single Fly tournament held Friday, Sept. 19 on the legendary Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam, where 11 teams of four anglers each (and 20 guides) competed for bragging rights and a chance to give a boost to TU’s trout habitat and river conservation work in Utah.

“The goal is for everyone to have fun-and we do. Fishing the Green is a dream come true for many anglers,” said Dave Kumlien, event coordinator for Trout Unlimited. “But the Single Fly also raises money for worthy conservation programs that improve fishing opportunities for Utah anglers. It’s important to give back to these special places-that gives everyone at the tournament a good feeling, too.”

The basic rules: Each angler gets to choose one fly for the day-and if you lose it, you’re finished. Each team is scored on how many trout they catch and release, with additional points based on two measured fish and bonus points for trophy trout of 20 inches or larger.

The beautiful Green River is always the star of the event, and this year was no different, with the crystal-clear waters brimming with healthy browns and rainbows.

The fishing for this year’s Single Fly was challenging. Hatches were sporadic and the weather bright and sunny. Still, patient and perseverant anglers found some willing fish here and there with the most productive technique being fishing the dry fly. The best dry fly pattern was the ant, and the top angler, Travis Gillespie, used a brown ant pattern to catch and release 22 Green River trout.

The goal of the event was to raise $50,000 to benefit TU’s conservation projects in Utah. TU is currently working across Utah on to remove obstacles and reconnect stretches of rivers to allow trout to freely move from mainstem reaches into small tributaries, which serve as important spawning and rearing habitat. TU also is spearheading a campaign to protect the Green, which has been threatened by the Million pipeline proposal and other water development schemes.

“This event reflects who we are as an organization,” said Kumlien. “Trout Unlimited is made up of grassroots anglers who like to have fun fishing and also want to preserve some of our best places-like the Green-for future generations of anglers.”

For more information about next year’s event, contact Dave Kumlien at dkumlien@tu.org.

2014Utah Single Fly Results
Among the award highlights:

The First Place Team was Edge Homes (Herb Patterson, Spencer Higa, Travis Gillespie, and Jed Stewart) with 184 combined points. They were guided by Ben Somsen and Dave Dibblee.

In the award for Largest Trout, Calvin Hazelwood of the Wyoming Bucking Fish team won with a trout of 20 inches among a large group of anglers who managed to catch 20-inchers.

Travis Gillespie of Edge Homes caught the most trout, landing 22 fish during the day.

Mike Jensen nabbed the Bird Dog award (best fly save) for continuing to fish after breaking his rod three times-he continued to fish with just the rod tip. The “gods of fishing” continued to watch over Mike as the $20 raffle ticket he purchased was drawn as a winner. Mike won a 9-foot, 5 weight Mystic fly rod, a Ross reel and Cortland line, an LL Bean vest, a beautiful fly-fishing photo, and two TU fishing shirts.

Lance Egan of the Cabelas team won the dubious honor of Biggest Loser by breaking off his fly earlier than anyone, at 9:45 a.m. Lance has won top angler in three previous Utah Single Fly events, and when presented with the “Biggest Loser” award, took the mike and announced that he was “4 for 4.” Lance works for Cabelas and is an international fly fishing competitor of note. TU was fortunate to have Cabelas make a $2,500 donation of merchandise to the 2014 UTSF and enter a team.

The Bomar Tipton Award (for the guide with the most points for his boat) went to Dave Dibblee, who guided the Edge Homes team to a top team score of 184. Dave’s father Bob Dibblee, former president of the Utah TU Council and Park City team member, presented his son Dave with the award.

Trout Unlimited is the nation’s oldest and largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s trout and salmon and their watersheds. Follow TU on Facebook and Twitter, and visit us online at tu.org.